News Items
Cemstone Names Gregory Kraut Corporate Controller
Cemstone Names Lars Anderson as QA/QC Manager
Cemstone Adds Tim Hughes To Sales and Operations Team
Cemstone Names Keith Meyer Chief Financial Officer
Cemstone Recognized by National Ready Mixed Concrete Association for Commitment to Quality
Cemstone Promotes Fritz to General Manager, Contractor
Cemstone Adds Olin to Safety and Environmental Services Team
Cemstone Adds Jack Mickelson as Account Representative
Cemstone Prepares to Build Ready-Mixed Concrete Plant in Hayward
Cemstone Adds Heindel To Engineering Services Group
I-35W Bridge Receives 2010 Design Excellence Award from the Portland Cement Association
Cemstone's Tim Becken Chosen to Lead National Ready Mixed Concrete Association (NRMCA) Board of Directors
Cemstone Showcases New Decorative Concrete Product at Target Field in Minneapolis
Darrell Gagnon, Cemstone’s Concrete Placing Manager Receives the ACPA Pioneer Award
Cemstone Facility Recognized for Environmental Excellence
Cemstone Names Lars Anderson as QA/QC Manager
Mendota Heights, Minn. – February 13, 2012 – Cemstone, an Upper Midwest leader in ready-mixed, engineered and architectural concrete, as well as aggregates, announced that Lars Anderson has joined the company as QA/QC Manager. Anderson will bring to Cemstone his depth of experience in the quality field from his concrete and cement background.
We are excited to have Lars join the Cemstone team. The breadth of his cement and concrete experience, as well as his leadership ability, will be valuable assets driving his success at Cemstone.
Anderson, a South Dakota native, began working at a young age for his father in the family owned poured concrete wall business. He then attended South Dakota School of Mines & Technology where he received his degree in Civil Engineering. After college, he joined Lafarge Cement in Baltimore, MD where he took a role as a Technical Sale Engineer working with the cement plants, cementitious products and their customer in the northeast. He gained experience in cement production, troubleshooting issues and new product development. In early 2006, he changed product lines and moved to Kansas City, MO where he took the position as QA/QC Manager of Lafarge Ready Mix for Kansas and Missouri. Lafarge had nine plants in Kansas City and three in Wichita where he developed mixes, managed technicians and investigated concrete concerns while staying very involved with the local ready mix organizations.
Cemstone Names Gregory Kraut Corporate Controller
Mendota Heights, Minn. – January 23, 2012 – Cemstone, an Upper Midwest leader in ready-mixed, engineered and architectural concrete, as well as aggregates, announced that Gregory Kraut has joined the company as Corporate Controller. Kraut will bring to Cemstone his experience as an accomplished financial and organizational leader with a proven track record of growth and profitability.
“We are excited to have Greg join the Cemstone team. His financial and operational experience, as well as his leadership ability, are valuable assets he’ll be able to showcase in his work at Cemstone,” said Keith Meyer, Chief Financial Officer of Cemstone.
Kraut, a Minnesota native, began his career in the Twin Cities with a leading global technology company in the computer industry. He gained a strong background in finance and accounting, and also worked extensively with business operations focusing on manufacturing and administrative process improvements. After living and working in Lacrosse, Wisconsin and Saint Louis, Missouri Kraut resettled in Minnesota in 1993. He has served as Division Controller and Finance Director for several global manufacturing organizations, most recently for a company in the data storage, LED, and solar industry. Kraut earned his M.B.A. from the University of Minnesota, and a B.S. in Accounting from the University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of Management.
Cemstone Adds Tim Hughes To Sales and Operations Team
Mendota Heights, Minn. – December 12, 2011 – Cemstone, an Upper Midwest leader in ready-mixed, aggregates, with a focus on engineered and architectural concrete, has hired Tim Hughes as an Account Representative and Plant Operations Manager. Hughes will office from Cemstone's Rock Creek, Minn. Facility.
"We're pleased to welcome Tim Hughes to the Cemstone, and look forward to his contributions in growing our business in Pine County, Chisago and surrounding regions north and east of the Twin Cities," said Mickelson, sales manager. "Tim has a tremendous knowledge of the industry and is familiar with the territory."
Hughes' key responsibilities will include sales and plant operations for ready-mixed concrete, aggregates, and related building products – as well as the oversight of our Cemstone Contractor Supply concrete store located in Rock Creek. Prior to joining Cemstone, Hughes worked for more than 20 years in sales and operations at a ready-mixed concrete and sand and gravel company in central Minnesota.
Founded in 1927, Cemstone operates ready-mixed concrete plants and aggregate facilities in Minnesota, western Wisconsin, and northern Iowa. The company operates a fleet of blue Cemstone ready-mix trucks and offers a complete line of concrete placing capabilities, engineering services, contractor supply products, concrete block, and masonry products.
Cemstone Names Keith Meyer Chief Financial Officer
Mendota Heights, Minn. – October 18, 2011 – Cemstone, an Upper Midwest leader in ready-mixed, engineered and architectural concrete, as well as aggregates, announced that Keith Meyer has joined the company as Chief Financial Officer. Meyer will bring to Cemstone his breadth and depth of experience as a financial and organizational leader with a proven track record of growth and profitability.
“We’re excited to welcome Keith to the Cemstone team, and look forward to the positive impact he will have on our entire organization,” said Thor Becken, President of Cemstone. “The totality of his leadership experience – in public, private and entrepreneurial environments – is perfectly suited to serve Cemstone well as we embrace an improving economy and pursue new opportunities.”
Meyer, a Minnesota native, began his career in the Twin Cities with a national leader in the grocery retailing and wholesaling industry, where he worked for seventeen years and served as Vice President of Finance. He resettled in Minnesota in 2003 after living and working in Chicago, Ill. And Scottsdale, Ariz. He has served as President, Vice President, and CFO, of several other organizations. He earned his M.B.A. from the University of St. Thomas and a B.S. in Accounting from the University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of Management.
Cemstone Recognized by National Ready Mixed Concrete Association for Commitment to Quality
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Mendota Heights, Minn. – October 27, 2011 – Cemstone, the Upper Midwest’s leader in high performance concrete, decorative and pervious concrete, and engineering services, has been chosen as a Category A recipient in the 2011 National Ready Mixed Concrete Association (NRMCA) Excellence in Quality Awards competition. The Category A competition, for which Cemstone received the award, is for those producers with an annual production exceeding one million cubic yards of ready mixed concrete.
“At Cemstone, we are committed to continually striving to refine our quality management practices and we are pleased that our efforts have been affirmed by this NRMCA award,” said Tim Becken, Cemstone’s Senior Vice President of Operations. “And this award helps to showcase ready mixed concrete as the ideal, sustainable building material that it is – for every type of construction project out there.”
With a goal of recognizing companies that demonstrate continuous improvement through their quality initiatives, and simultaneously setting attainable goals for concrete producers intent on elevating their quality management systems, the NRMCA’s Research Engineering and Standards Committee established competition criteria based on the NRMCA’s guideline for developing a Quality Plan in Quality Management Systems for Ready Mixed Concrete companies. As an award-winning producer, Cemstone’s exceptional operational management practices are acknowledged.
The National Ready Mixed Concrete Association was established in 1930 and operates through a partnership agreement with state associations. Its mission is to responsibly represent and serve the entire ready mixed concrete industry through leadership, promotion and education.
Cemstone Promotes Fritz to General Manager, Contractor
Mendota Heights, Minn. - May 18, 2011. Cemstone, a Midwest leading supplier of construction materials and related products, high performance/decorative concrete and Insulating Concrete Forms (ICFs) has promoted Jason Fritz to the position of General Manager, Cemstone Contractor Supply (CCS).
Fritz will be responsible for managing and overseeing all proposal development/sales, operations and purchasing for CCS. This will include strategic planning and marketing for all products and services distributed through Cemstone Contractor Supply, as well as working closely with the company’s strategic vendors. CCS features 10,000 professional-grade items that are available through both a network of stores and direct distribution to project sites.
"Cemstone Contractor Supply is one of the Upper Midwest’s leading suppliers of construction related products and services," said Thor Becken, President. "Jason’s management skills and strategic vision will take CCS to a new level of service for both our commercial and residential customers. We are confident that his knowledge, experience and leadership will help our CCS Division continue to grow.”
Fritz joined Cemstone in 1996 and began his career as CCS Store Manager of the River Falls, Wis. Location. He subsequently served as an Insulating Concrete Forms Sales Specialist and most recently held the position of CCS Sales Manager.
In 2005 he received ARM’s “Promoter of the Year” award in recognition of his efforts to grow the market for energy efficient and environmentally friendly ICF structures.
Cemstone Adds Olin to Safety and Environmental Services Team
Mendota Heights, Minn. – April 25, 2011 – Cemstone, an Upper Midwest leader in ready-mixed, engineered and architectural concrete, as well as aggregates, has hired Alex Olin as its Safety/Environmental Coordinator. Olin will help manage safety and environmental program initiatives, and will report to Patrick Bergin, P.E., LEED® AP, Cemstone Environmental Manager and Mike Brekken, Cemstone Safety Director.
“We’re happy to welcome Alex to Cemstone, and look forward to his contributions on both safety and environmental programs for our organization,” said Tim Becken, Senior Vice President of Operations. “As our group of companies look to the future, concern for employee and safety, and sound environmental practices are essential. We have an excellent and highly skilled team in place to manage operations and plan for future growth.”
Olin’s key responsibilities will include conducting environmental and safety inspections at Cemstone plants and mining sites, and satisfying compliance and reporting requirements using best management practices (BMPs). He will update storm water pollution prevention plans and emergency protocol guidelines, and work with site personnel and regional managers on the latest Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) rules and requirements.
Prior to joining Cemstone, Olin worked as a Quality Control Technician for Dickenson Ready Mix in North Dakota. Following that, he was an Engineering Aide for the City of Columbia Heights, Minn. He earned a B.C.E. (Bachelors of Civil Engineering) degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Minnesota.
Cemstone Adds Jack Mickelson as Account Representative
Mendota Heights, Minn. – May 3, 2011 – Cemstone, an Upper Midwest leader in ready-mixed, engineered and architectural concrete, as well as aggregates, has hired Jack Mickelson as an Account Representative. Jack will be assisting with various sales & marketing initiatives, and will report to Dave Cave, Central Division Manager of Wisconsin.
“We’re happy to welcome Jack to the Cemstone family, and look forward to his sales and marketing contributions in our expanding Northern Wisconsin market,” said Cave. “As the economy strengthens, professionals like Jack will help Cemstone grow as we expand into new territories.”
Jack’s key responsibilities will include sales of ready-mix concrete and aggregates, and also Contractor Supply in Cemstone’s Northern Wisconsin Division, including plants at Turtle Lake, Spooner, and the company’s newest location in Hayward.
Jack comes to Cemstone with a degree in sales and marketing, and 12 years of sales and marketing experience, most recently in the heavy equipment business, fulfilling the needs of construction contractors and municipalities. He also brings with him extensive experience in agricultural sales.
Cemstone Prepares to Build Ready-Mix Concrete Plant in Hayward
Hayward, Wisc. – June 10, 2010 – Cemstone, a family owned company and an upper Midwest leader in ready-mixed, engineered and decorative concrete, has announced plans to construct a ready-mixed concrete batch plant in Hayward. The facility will be located on a ten-acre lot situated on Highway 63, two miles south of downtown. Construction has begun on the new ready mix plant and plans are to be open in early Fall of 2010.
“The Sawyer County area is a hub for commerce as well as family recreation in northern Wisconsin, and we look forward to having a Cemstone plant close at hand,” said Steve Becken, Vice President of Cemstone Ready Mix. “This facility will provide improved service and support to our ready-mixed concrete customers in the region. The area is also served by our Cemstone facility in nearby Spooner which features a full-service Contractor Supply Store with thousands of professional grade products for both commercial and residential customers.”
Because concrete production uses many locally sourced and sustainable materials, the Cemstone plant will help architects, engineers and builders construct more environmentally friendly projects that employ local contractors.
PHOTO CAPTION: When operational, Cemstone’s Hayward plant will deliver ready-mixed concrete to jobsites using front discharge vehicles.
Cemstone Adds Heindel To Engineering Services Group
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Mendota Heights, Minn. — May 3, 2010 — Cemstone, an upper Midwest leader in ready-mixed, engineered and architectural concrete, has hired Kevin Heindel as a Senior Materials Engineer in the company's Engineering Services Group. Heindel is a licensed Professional Engineer in Minnesota and is a member of the American Concrete Institute.
"Having a team of in-house Professional Engineers like Kevin Heindel on board distinguishes the Cemstone approach from that of others," said Dr. Kevin MacDonald, Vice President, Engineering Services. "Kevin's knowledge and professionalism places our Engineering Services Group in a better position to offer our customers innovative products and quality support services."
Heindel will provide aggregate and concrete technical support services for Cemstone projects of all sizes, as well as oversee quality control analyses and testing for Cemstone customers. Heindel will report to Dr. MacDonald.
Heindel worked in Cemstone’s Engineering Services Group from 2000 to 2008. Immediately prior to rejoining Cemstone in March, he was employed as a technical sales representative for a concrete admixture manufacturer.
I-35W Bridge Receives 2010 Design Excellence Award from the Portland Cement Association
Cemstone's work recognized at National Concrete Bridge Conference.
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Mendota Heights, Minn. — March 11, 2010 — Cemstone, the Upper Midwest's leader in high performance concrete, pervious concrete and engineering services has learned that the new I-35W bridge has received an Awards of Excellence recognition by the Portland Cement Association (PCA) at its 2010 PCA Concrete Bridge Conference held in Phoenix, Ariz. On February 25. To date, the I-35W bridge has received more than 25 regional and national awards.
The National Concrete Bridge Council and the Federal Highway Administration sponsored the conference, where a jury of experts selected the I-35W bridge as one of seven national winners. The conference featured a series of presentations and workshops on sustainable bridges, smart bridges, non-destructive evaluation for bridges, durable bridge decks and innovative bridge design and construction.
"This important recognition by the PCA and the National Concrete Bridge Council is a testament to Cemstone's engineering services and its infrastructure team's bridge- building expertise," said Thor Becken, president of Cemstone. "And high profile awards also help demonstrate that concrete is an ideal, sustainable building material for construction projects of all shapes and sizes."
Cemstone provided 60,000 cubic yards of high performance concrete for the Flatiron/Manson design/build team, including four primary high-performance concrete mixes for superior strength and multiple levels of redundancy. These high performance mixes also enhanced the project's environmental stewardship by reducing the amount of virgin material, particularly Portland cement (and its attendant carbon dioxide emissions), in the structure.
The National Concrete Bridge Council is a council of industry organizations allied to: promote quality in concrete bridge construction; gather and disseminate information on design, construction, and condition of concrete bridges; establish communication with federal and state departments of transportation, city and county public works departments, and consulting engineers; and provide information on behalf of the concrete industry to codes and standards groups.
Cemstone's Tim Becken Chosen to Lead National Ready Mixed Concrete Association (NRMCA) Board of Directors
Mendota Heights, Minn. — March 18, 2010 —Cemstone, an Upper Midwest leader in high performance concrete, engineering services, aggregates, decorative concrete and masonry products, today announced that Tim Becken, the company's Senior Vice President of Operations, was installed this week by the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association (NRMCA) membership as the chairman of its Board of Directors. Mr. Becken, who was elected at the NRMCA Annual Convention in February, succeeds Henry Batton of Concrete Supply Company of Charlotte, N.C.
Becken also received the NRMCA’s Joseph E. Carpenter Award for his lifetime commitment to improving ready-mixed concrete operations. Carpenter Award recipients are singled out for their outstanding lifetime contribution to the ready mixed concrete industry in the field of operations, safety or environmental.
"I am extremely proud to have Tim as our chairman for 2010-2011. Tim, the Beckens and Cemstone have a long history of leadership on the board of directors and committees of the association,” said Robert A. Garbini, NRMCA President. “Tim brings the same creativity and entrepreneurship to the association that he has in his company. I know he is particularly focused on relations with the state associations and the work that will be coming out of MIT on the sustainability of concrete. I'm indeed looking forward to this year.”
Becken began his career at Cemstone in 1991. He has been an active NRMCA member and industry advocate for more than 20 years. During that time, he has served on numerous NRMCA committees, including Educational Activities; Government Affairs; Strategic Planning; and Operations, Environment and Safety. Mr. Becken has also served twice as president of the Aggregates & Ready Mix Association of Minnesota.
Tim Becken earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minn., graduating cum laude. Mr. Becken is a community activist and volunteer, having served on the boards of the Minnesota Transportation Alliance and the HealthEast Foundation and is an active member at Woodbury Lutheran Church in Woodbury, Minn. He is married and has three children.
NRMCA, based in Silver Springs, Md., represents the producers of ready-mixed concrete and the companies that provide materials, equipment and support to the industry. It conducts education, training, promotion, research, engineering, safety, environmental, technological, lobbying and regulatory programs.
Cemstone Showcases New Decorative Concrete Product at Target Field in Minneapolis
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Mendota Heights, Minn. — January 25, 2010 —Cemstone, the Upper Midwest’s leading supplier of high-performance and decorative concrete, today announced an exclusive agreement to distribute Top-Cast® surface retarders for decorative concrete from industry leader Grace Construction Products. Grace will provide Cemstone’s Contractor Supply (CCS) locations throughout Minnesota and western Wisconsin with its full range of Top-Cast surface retarders.
“We chose to offer Top-Cast because the product line supports our commitment to providing decorative concrete contractors with innovative and top quality products that help them build their businesses,” said Thor Becken, president of Cemstone. “Grace is a great partner because they are an industry leader in concrete admixture technology and they provide outstanding technical expertise and support. The best products make our customers’ jobs easier and more profitable. That is a win-win.”
Top-Cast helps contractors easily control the degree of exposed aggregate in finished concrete, bringing beauty and uniqueness to any decorative concrete or architectural precast concrete project. Top-Cast surface retarders were used at the new Minnesota Twins Target Field on poured-in-place flatwork areas throughout the facility to provide a wide range of effects, from a simulated light acid wash or sand blast finish up to full exposed aggregate.
“The product is very easy to work with, and provides a wide range of etch depths, excellent coverage rates and superior control,” added Becken. “Moreover, Top-Cast is odorless and solvent free, and doesn’t require covering with plastic following application. These are all important benefits.”
Top-Cast is the industry's only micro etch surface retarder. Water-based Top-Cast is environmentally friendly and is ideal for poured-in-place flatwork. It is available in 11 depths of etch to provide a comprehensive array of effects from micro-etch to fully exposed aggregate. Each grade is color and number coded for safety and convenience.
Each product grade of Top-Cast creates a unique degree of reaction to produce the desired effect. The retarding chemicals diffuse into the paste during the first hours of curing, and slow down the cement hydration reaction. The retarded surface is not required to be covered with plastic. It is washed off with a water hose and broom or pressurized water the same or next day, depending on mix design and ambient conditions, to reveal the aggregate in the concrete mix.
Grace has long been a technical and manufacturing leader in concrete construction products including architectural precast concrete and exposed aggregate slabs. Respect for the environment and safety at work are central to all that Grace does. Product development at Grace Construction Products is geared to reducing risks to the environment and to making its products safer in production, handling and application on-site. The collaboration between Cemstone and Grace will bring better products to market faster, providing concrete contractors with state-of-the-art solutions.
Cemstone's Darrell Gagnon Receives Pioneer Award at 2010 World of Concrete Exposition
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Mendota Heights, Minn. — February 17, 2010 —Cemstone, an Upper Midwest leader in high performance concrete, engineering services, aggregates, decorative concrete and masonry products, today announced that Darrell Gagnon has received a Pioneer Award from the American Concrete Pumping Association (ACPA). The award was presented at the 2010 World of Concrete Exposition in Las Vegas, Nev.
Gagnon, who began working for Cemstone in 1993, has more than 35 years experience in the industry. In 1994 Gagnon joined Cemstone’s newly formed Concrete Placing Division, where he has overseen the company’s placing fleet growth from two belt-driven conveyors to a sophisticated fleet of 25 placing vehicles, conveyors and high rise booms.
“Darrell is a very special person and, to many of us, is the face and personality of our placing division,” said Thor Becken, President of Cemstone. “Darrell and the talented team he’s assembled have played a critical role in virtually every major project we’ve been involved in for the past sixteen years.” Among its recent and notable projects are the new I-35W bridge, Target Field, TCF Gopher Stadium and the Marquette and Second Avenue South (MARQ2) transit project in downtown Minneapolis.
Pioneer Awards recipients are recognized by the ACPA for their specific or unique contributions to the concrete pumping industry. Award criteria includes: advancing the industry, improving the conditions under which concrete pumping is performed, sharing knowledge with others, promoting good will and advancing safety practices.
Cemstone offers a wide range of concrete placing capabilities, with a full line of equipment to meet any job’s requirement. Among equipment it operates are concrete pumps with 17- to 61-meter boom lengths, mixer mounted conveyors, spider booms and high-rise booms.
Cemstone Facility Recognized for Environmental Excellence
East Bethel, Minn batch plant earns NRMCA’s Green-Star Certification
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Mendota Heights, Minn. – January 18, 2010 – Cemstone, an Upper Midwest leader in ready-mix, engineered and decorative concrete has earned Green-Star Certification by the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association (NRMCA) for its batch plant facility in East Bethel, Minn. It is only one of two plants in Minnesota to receive such certification.
The NRMCA Green-Star Program recognizes those facilities that have achieved environmental excellence through the use of an Environmental Management System. The program was created in collaboration with the Environmental Protection Agency’s Green Highways Partnership and inspired by the 10 Guiding Principals of Environmental Stewardship.
“We’re honored to be recognized by the NRMCA and its Green-Star program for both our adherence to environmental standards and our commitment to continual improvement,” said Tim Becken, Cemstone’s Senior Vice President of Operations. “Cemstone’s environmental performance at all of its facilities is an important part of our mission, as we build sustainable practices throughout our operations.”
Among the 10 Guiding Principals of Environmental Stewardship that illustrate Cemstone’s environmental commitment are: a commitment by top management, compliance assurance, measurement and control improvement, training and development, awareness and outreach, and research and development.
“The East Bethel facility features advanced technologies and processes, such as a central dust collector to capture particles at silos, scales and loading points – and a weir water-recycling system to handle wastewater,” said Pat Bergin, Cemstone’s Environmental Manager, who oversees Cemstone’s company-wide environmental initiative. “Of equal importance, we audit and assess our environmental performance and continually strive to do better. That’s the true benefit of the NRMCA’s Green-Star Program.”
Cemstone’s East Bethel plant is located at 24480 Baltimore Street, NE and can be reached at 763-784-3512. The facility also features a Contractor Supply Store, one of the Midwest’s leading suppliers of construction related products and a national leader in the distribution of insulating concrete forms used to build concrete structures.
